Hi, the references to the ad model to help with state budgets has been 'back burner'ed' in these latest pushes for the digital plates. But if you listen closely, it is still mentioned. And googling the idea will show that it is still an idea well likes by more than a few.

Your comment 'provided there are no security issues' should be making you light up like the robot on Lost In Space! 'Danger Will Robinson!!!!!'

These articles here are all about questioning whether skilled engineers and businesses are current enough, smart enough and focused on security of automotive systems as the become more complex. AND YOU ARE HAPPY TO INCLUDE THE DMV? You must have a very different DMV on your planet than all of us on Earth :-)

Death, taxes, USPS and the DMV... I think we should focus on near term solvable problems like space elevators....

Wait, I'm confused. The article link you sent does not seem to say anything about selling ads on license plates. I would be opposed to that. But the idea of digital license plates, as described, does not seem like a problem to me, provided there are no security issues. I like the idea of not having to put the registration sticker on my license plate and I also like the idea that digital license plates might make the whole process of dealing with the DMV more efficient. I call that progress and a good use of technology.

As I stated in my comment to Junko's earlier article "Infineon: Breaking Down Automotive Attacks" and to this article again, I hear the automotive electronics experts focusing on building secure individual controllers that will only execute vetted code. But the 'black box' that is build around these impervious controllers accepts unencrypted throttle commands from 0 to 100%. Or may be it is encrypted, so another black box must create a trusted and secure connection between the boxes first. But like internet connected computers today, once this secure and trusted connection is established, the malware that has found its way on to the second box takes over and happily sends those throttle commands.

And if these common with existing systems security problems are not enough, as this article shares, your car has government involved in requirements far more than your laptop. Your state government wants to sell ads on your license plate, that will display while you are at a stop (I have to ask, while driving a multi-ton vehicle, even while stopped, is there not other places I should be focused than reading advertisements on the license plate in front of me????). I am sure there was never any talk of interfacing these digital license plates to any of the buses on the vehicle....

:-) My wike does quilt making classes and one of the ladies there asked her daughter to open a new bank account for her while she was overseas. Imagine her surprise when she came back and found that $3000 wa missing for various recreational pursuits. Yep a car doesn't make a good wallet :-)

There is a cool app called TabbedOut. It was originally developed for use in a bar, but expanded to use in restaurants. You just check in when you get there, can check your running tab at any time, ad pay as you are walking out the door. No need to flag down a server or bar tender. I think it's a cool concept, but never used the app. The closest place that accepts it is 45 miles away...

Hi Junko, this is a very useful addition to safety (car to car comms) and I fear it will take government intervention (like for OBDII) for all manufacturers to standardise. The only thing is that they will have to overcome the desire to too tightly integrate it with other systems otherwise they will make hacking just too easy. When hackers are considered it may turn out to be too dangerous to have it. I'd love to sit in on an implementation discussion with all of the pitfalls weighed up against the benefits.

In conjunction with unveiling of EE Times’ Silicon 60 list, journalist & Silicon 60 researcher Peter Clarke hosts a conversation on startups in the electronics industry. One of Silicon Valley's great contributions to the world has been the demonstration of how the application of entrepreneurship and venture capital to electronics and semiconductor hardware can create wealth with developments in semiconductors, displays, design automation, MEMS and across the breadth of hardware developments. But in recent years concerns have been raised that traditional venture capital has turned its back on hardware-related startups in favor of software and Internet applications and services. Panelists from incubators join Peter Clarke in debate.